Book index

ABSTRACT

A PREFABRICATED INSERT-LEAF, WITH OR WITHOUT PRINTED MATTER AND ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED BETWEEN THE LEAVES OF A TELEPHONE OR SIMILAR DIRECTORY, DICTIONARY OR THE LIKE AND HAVING AN ELONGATED FLEXIBLE STRUCK OUT RIBBON-LIKE TONGUE. THIS TONGUE EMBODIES LIKE HALF-PORTIONS WHICH CAN BE FOLDED AND CREASED TO PROVIDE SEVERAL COMPANION PLIES PROVIDING A FINGER-GRIPPABLE SUITABLY LETTERED BOOK INDEXING TAB. THE OUTWARDLY FOLDED TONGUE HAS REVERSELY FOLDED   SECOND AND THIRD PLIES, THE SECOND PLY BEING THREADED THROUGH AN APPROPRIATE PRECUT SLIT AND THE FREE OR TERMINAL PLY BEING SANDWICHED BETWEEN COORDINATIG PORTIONS OF THE FIRST AND SECOND PLIES TO PROVIDE A TRIPLE PLY TAB.

, 1 J. VALENCIA 3,561,147

. BOOK INDEX Filed June 17, 1969 a TIELIEIPHIHIINHE IH IIIRIEC'HHDIRY Jose Valencia INVIL'N'I'OR.

34 Nanny United States Patent 3,561,147 BOOK INDEX Jose Valencia, 1198 S. Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, Calif. 94110 Filed June 17, 1969, Ser. No. 834,053 Int. Cl. B42f 21/02 US. Cl. 40-360 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A prefabricated insert-leaf, with or without printed matter and adapted to be mounted between the leaves of a telephone or similar directory, dictionary or the like and having an elongated flexible struck out ribbon-like tongue. This tongue embodies like half-portions which can be folded and creased to provide several companion plies providing a finger-grippable suitably lettered book indexing tab. The outwardly folded tongue has reversely folded second and third plies, the second ply being threaded through an appropriate precut slit and the free or terminal ply being sandwiched between coordinating portions of the first and second plies to provide a triple ply tab.

This invention relates to a prefabricated ready-to-use normally flat special purpose paper or sheet material insert or leaf capable of being mounted for use between the customarily bound leaves of a book such as, for example, a bible, telephone or similar directory, dictionary, catalogue or the like and has to do, more particularly, with a leaf having a keeper slit and a struck out manually bendable tongue which can be folded outwardly, reversely bent or folded, passed through the slit, and again folded outwardly in a manner to provide a satisfactorily strong and durable book indexing tab.

Briefly, the concept pertains to structurally and functionally novel indexing means for the obverse and also the reverse pages or sides of alphabetically coordinating leaves of various books which lend themselves to de sirable quick-reference use of lettered or equivalently designated indexing tabs. More specifically, the means preferred comprises a plurality of auxiliary insert-leaves cooperatively sandwiched and bound between the anchored portions of said main leaves and having free mnaually turnable outward marginal edges coinciding with coacting turnable outward marginal edges of said main leaves, each'indexing means embodying an elongate ribbon-like flexible tongue having an inward end joined to a predetermined portion of the coacting insert-leaf and a free outward end projecting a nominal but significant 0 distance beyond an oriented portion of said manually turnable marginal edge, reversely folded upon itself and having a terminal portion directed toward and joined with a predetermined edge portion of said leaf and providing a finger-grippable book indexing tab.

Stated somewhat more specifically, the invention has to do with a prefabricated ready-to-use auxiliary insert-leaf, that is, a paper or an equivalent leaf which resembles in shape and size one of the main leaves in the book. This leaf can be blank at the manufactured stage or it can be expressly printed With advertising media of whatever character desired. It can be on heavier sheet material for long lasting requirements. It has an inward marginal edge capable of being fittingly bound or anchored between the bound portions of the usual printed leaves of the book, catalogue or the like. A prescribed portion of the body of insert-leaf is provided preferably near the median top portion with a horizontally elongated relatively narrow struck-out tongue. The cutting out of the tongue provides an elongated slot. The slot terminates at its respective transverse ends inwardly of the lengthwise marginal edges 3,561,147 Patented Feb. 9, 1971 of the insert leaf. A portion of the leaf also has a slit formed therein. This slit is of a length which corresponds with the width of the bendable tongue. It is located between an outer attached and bendable end of the tongue and slot and the adjacent outer turnable marginal edge of the insert-leaf. It is spaced inwardly from and is parallel with the stated marginal edge and provides a guide as well as a keeper for that portion of the tongue which is threaded therethrough and thus partly held in place. One transverse end of the tongue is integrally but foldably joined to an outward transverse end of the slot. The tongue has a fold line midway between its ends which transforms the tongue into equal half-portions. These halfportions are proportional in length and width that they can be folded and creased to provide the aforementioned three distinguishable but cooperatively complemental tabforming plies. It is also within the purview of the invention that the obverse surface of the tongue can be provided to the left and right respectively of the fold line with printed indicia such as the letters C-D, for example, which are adapted to facilitate the use of the tongue when it is being used as the desired indexing tab.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a typical book, a telephone directory for example, showing the halves of the book swung open and showing the outstanding accessible finger-grippable tabs suitably lettered and also showing at the right portions of certain pages broken away to expose one of the special purpose insert-leaves.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating an upper part of the insert-leaf and showing the tongue in its normal intact state, that is, before it pushed out for purposes of forming the desired indexing tab.

FIG. 3 is a view also in plan and fragmentarily shown with the bendable tongue pressed out and readied for reverse folding in a step-by-step manner.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the next step beyond FIG. 3 and wherein the tongue is being fashioned into the desired indexing tab and showing, more particularly, the free end of the second half portion passed partly to the slit and curled in readiness to define the three coacting plies.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 in plan and fragmentarily illustrated and wherein the folds have been properly interrelated to provide the finished indexing tab.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section taken on the plane of the section line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

And FIG. 7 is a plan view of the telephone directory closed and with the stepped alphabetically arranged tabs in viewable ready-to-use positions and relationship.

The book is denoted, generally stated, by the numeral 8. It is understood that the term book is intended to comprehend a telephone or similar directory, a catalogue, a dictionary, or the like. The aforementioned main or regular leaves of the book are denoted by the numeral 10. The book covers are denoted at 12 and binding at 14.

Broadly stated the improvement pertains to a plurality of auxiliary insert leaves which constitute the aforementioned indexing means, that is, for the obverse as well as the reverse pages or sides, respectively, of the main leaves 10. It will simplify the understanding of the invention to dwell upon a single so-called auxiliary insert leaf. This leaf is denoted by the numeral 16 and. is made of paper, lightweight cardboard or sheet material as the case may be. One marginal edge portion 18 ice is anchored or bound in place as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in particular. The other outer marginal edge is denoted by the numeral 20. The upper body portion 22 is provided with a struck-out elongated relatively narrow ribbon-like tongue 24. The slot which is present when the tongue is bent down is denoted at 26 particularly in FIG. 3. The tongue as best illustrated in FIG. 2 in its intact form is elongated rectangular and has a central fold line 28 which divides the tongue into like half-sections 30 and 32. The indicia or letters 34 to the right and left of the fold line provide the desired indexing letters in the finished tab. That end of the tongue which is attached and bendable is denoted at 36. The aforementioned slit is denoted at 38 and it is in line with the tongue and slot and is of a width equal to the tongue. It is in the location illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein it will be noted that it is substantially parallel with and spaced slightly inward from the marginal edge 20.

The normal and intact state of the insert-leaf is that shown in FIG. 2 wherein the tongue 24 is within the limits or confines of the encompassing slot 26 but is ready to be punched out and bent lengthwise to the right as shown in FIG. 3. The tongue is bendably flexible and is herein set forth as relatively narrow and ribbonlike and easily bendable. The distinguishable half-portions are set forth here to facilitate describing the tongue and the manner in which it is handled and folded or bent. The first half portion 32 of the tongue is folded at an outer or outward end of the slot as denoted at 36 and is superimposed upon a coacting reverse surface of the inset leaf and is then extended outwardly beyond the outer margin edge 20 (FIG. 3) and provides a first tabforming ply here conveniently differentiated by the numeral 40. Actually the half-portion 32 and so-called first ply 40 constitute the same component part. The other or second half-portion 30 then can be folded and fashioned into the second and third plies. The second ply in FIG. 1 is denoted at 42 and this ply has its end portion threaded or passed through the slit 38 after which it is bent and creased at 44 to thus define or provide the third ply 46. These three plies and the folds or creases can best be seen in detail in FIG. 6. It will be evident that these several plies are in line with each other and when they are properly fitted together they can be glued or otherwise adjoined whereby to thus provide a triple-ply indexing tab. The tab projects sufiiciently beyond the edge 20 that it provides a satisfactory finger-grip. In addition by arranging the letters 34 to the right and left of the fold line 28 the letters can be read from either the obverse side appearing in FIG. for example or the reverse side (not detailed here). It follows that a ribbon-like readily bendable elongate tongue 24 can be punched out of its slot and folded progressively in the manner shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 to define the desired as well as unique tab.

Experience with a novel insert leaf characterized by the struck-out tongue has shown that the tongue is of requisite size and shape that it has proved out to be simple and practical. The folds or plies which are folded and glued together make for a strong and reliable easily grippable index tab. The tab can be printed on both sides and the corners can, if desired, be trimmed (not shown) for appearance if the customer prefers it.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalent may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. For use between and complemental to selectively usable main leaves anchored in a bound book such as, for example, a telephone or similar directory, a dictionary or the like, indexing means for the obverse as well as the reverse pages, respectively, of said main leaves comprising a plurality of auxiliary insert-leaves cooperatively sandwiched and bound between the anchored portions of said main leaves and having free manually turnable outward marginal edges coinciding with coacting turnable outward margin edges of said main leaves, each indexing means embodying an elongate ribbon-like flexible tongue having an inward end joined to a predetermined portion of the coacting insert-leaf and a free outward end projecting a nominal but significant disiance beyond an oriented portion of said manually turnable marginal edge, reversely folded upon itself and having a terminal portion directed toward and joined with a predetermined edge portion of said leaf and providing a fingergrippable book indexing tab.

2. The indexing means defined in and according to claim 1, and wherein said tab embodies first and second aligned plies coacting in a manner to strengthen the tab, and also wherein said tab embodies obverse and reverse indicating faces each provided with indicia, for example, the letters A-B or C-D as the case may be.

3. The indexing means defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein said tab-forming tongue also embodies a third ply resulting from a folded and creased terminal portion, the latter interposed between the aforementioned first and second plies, whereby the over-all composite tab is made up of three companion plies.

4. The indexing means defined in and according to claim 3, and wherein that portion of said leaf coordinated and registering with said tab is provided with a tilt providing a keeper through and beyond which an end portion of the said second ply is threaded.

5. The indexing means defined in and according to claim 3, and wherein that portion of said insert-leaf which is coordinated and lined up with said tab is provided with a slit of a length corresponding to the width of the second ply and is spaced from and parallel with said outward marginal edge, said slit constituting a keeper and an end portion of said second ply being threaded through and beyond said slit and being united with said third ply by way of said folded and creased portion, and said folded and creased portion being located between the reverse surface of said insert-leaf and a portion of that part of the tongue which provides said first ply.

6. For use between and complemental to selectively usable main leaves anchored in a bound book such as, for example a telephone or similar directory, a dictionary or the like, indexing means for the obverse as well as the reverse pages, respectively, of said main leaves comprising a prefabricated ready-to-use auxiliary insert-leaf having an inward marginal edge capable of being bound and anchored between the bound portions of the usual printed leaves of a book, catalogue or the like, a prescribed portion of the body of said insert-leaf having a horizontally elongated relatively narrow tongue struck out and providing an elongated slot, a portion of said body also having a slit formed therein, said slit being of a length corresponding to the width of said tongue, being located between an outer bendable and foldable end of said tongue and slot and the outer turnable marginal edge of said insert-leaf and spaced inwardly from and being parallel with said marginal edge and providing a guide and keeper for a portion of said tongue.

7. The auxiliary insert-leaf defined in and according to claim 6, and wherein one transverse end of said tongue is integrally but foldably joined to an outward transverse end of said slot, said tongue having a fold line midway between its ends transforming said tongue into equal half-portions, the latter capable of being folded and creased to provide three distinguishable but cooperatively complemental tab-forming plies.

8. The auxiliary insert-leaf defined in and according to claim 7, and wherein a median portion of the obverse surface of said tongue is provided to the left and right, respectively, with printed indicia, the letters CD, for

example, which are adapted to facilitate the use of the tongue when it is being used as an indexing tab.

9. The auxiliary insert lea-f defined in and according to claim 8 and wherein said tongue is bendably flexible, relatively narrow and ribbon-like, a first half-portion of said tongue being folded at an outward end of said slot and superimposed upon a coacting reverse surface of said insert-leaf and then extended outwardly beyond said outward marginal edge and providing a first tab-forming ply, the second half portion being reversely folded and directed toward and threaded through and beyond said slit to provide a second ply opposed to the first ply, and a free terminal end portion of said second half-portion being folded and creased and directed outwardly sand- Widhed between said first and second plies and coordinating in providing a triple-ply indexing tab.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner 

